National Safety Month June 2019

Are you aware of the safety and health risks of your staff? The month of June is National Safety Month in the United States, the perfect time to carefully think about the safety and well-being of your employees. Of course, not just for organizations in the United States, but also in other regions.

In 1996, the National Safety Council established June as National Safety Month, aiming to increase awareness of the leading safety and health risks and ultimately decrease the number of unintentional injuries and deaths in the United States.

During National Safety Month, individuals and organizations participate by making efforts to reduce the leading causes of unintentional injury and death at work, on the road, and in homes and communities.

This year, the National Safety Month has been dedicated to these four key topics:

  • Hazard Recognition:

One of the biggest causes of workplace injuries and incidents can be traced back to hazards not being identified and dealt with. It can become habitual to overlook potential hazards, especially when in a familiar workplace. In order to combat this, NSC recommends that employers and workers endeavor to hone their visual literacy, or their ability to interpret and derive meaning from sight.

  • Slips, Trips and Falls:

According to OSHA, falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry; however, slip, trip, and fall hazards can be found in every workplace. The best way to prevent these hazards is to practice good housekeeping. Employees are much less likely to slip and fall at the jobsite when floors are kept clear of debris, mats are secured and lying flat on the ground, and working areas and pathways are well-lit.

  • Fatigue:

Often used to describe a lack of energy or overall tiredness, fatigue is more than just feeling drowsy. Fatigue interferes with normal daily activities and can have serious impacts on workplace health and safety. NSC estimates that 13% of workplace injuriescan be attributed to fatigue. Fatigue typically comes from not getting enough sleep. The NSC focuses on limited use of alcohol and caffeine, a sleep-friendly environment and turning off televisions and mobile phones 30 minutes before bed.

  • Impairment:

NSC closes out National Safety Month 2019 with impairment. Impairment can be caused by substances and situations that may impede a worker by producing serious barricades to workplace safety that may lead to dangerous situations. In order to stay safe at work, workers need to be healthy and focused. Worker impairment can come in many unexpected forms and can be situational, such as exposure to extreme temperatures or cases of workplace harassment; however, the most common workplace impairments come from alcohol abuse and drug misuse.

More information can be found on the website of the National Safety Council and on the website of NES Global.